Companies fined for feed additive cartel

A European court has adjusted fines levied by Europe's competition authority
against two companies and upheld a fine on Dutch firm Akzo Nobel NV for
participating in an animal feed additive cartel.

The Court of First Instance reduced a fine on Belgian drugs company UCB SA by
€8.51 million to €1.87 million; and raised a fine on Germany's BASF AG by €54,000
to €35 million.
The court upheld a €20.99 million fine on Akzo Nobel.

The European Commission imposed fines amounting to €66.34 million on the
three companies in 2004 for taking part in price-fixing, market sharing and
other anti-competitive practices in the choline chloride market.

The
commission said the cartel controlled 80% of the €180 million worldwide market
and the €50 million European Economic Area market for choline choride.